Antifriction-bearing.



No. 68!,643. Patented Ag. 27, |90I. D. E. KEMPSTER. ANTIFRICTIDN BEARING.

(Application filed Sept, 14, 1900.) (No Model.) 2 Sheeis*Sheet I.

ffm? @www Aww BEBES i No. 68l,643. Patented Aug. 27, |90I. D. E. KEMPSTER.

ANTIFBICTION BEARING.

(Application led Sept. 14, 1900:)

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UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL Il. KEMPSTER, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

ANTlFRlCTlON-BEARING.

SPECIFICATION forming part f Letters Patent N o. 681,643, dated August 27, 1901.

Application led September 14,1900. Serial No. 30,063. (No model.)

T0 [all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIELE. KEMPSTER, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Antfrictional Bearings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in antifrictional bearings,and more especially to 1o that for which Letters Patent of the United States were issued to me, numbered 585,580, on the 29th day of June, 1897.

The object of my present invention is to produce an improved construction and new combination and arrangement of parts whereby the said bearing is better adapted for geueral use in machinery.

The invention therefore consists in the new construction, combination, and arrangement zo of parts forming the antifriction-bearing, and the special features thereof are hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The invention is carried out substantially z 5 as shown in the accompanying drawings,

which form an essential part of this specification, and wherein- Figure 1 represents a longitudinal section of my improved bearing on the bent line A B 3o in Fig. 2, showing an arrangement of my invent-ion as applied to a bearing-box made in two parts. Fig. 2 represents a cross-section of the same on the line C D in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a longitudinal section of my improved bearing on the bent line E F in Fig. 4, showing an arrangement of my invention as applied to a bearing-box made whole or in one piece. Fig. 4C represents a cross-section of the bearing on the line G Hin Fig. 3.

4o Fig. 5 represents a side elevation of the loose rings which form the tracks for the separating-disks, as shown in Figs. 3 and et. Fig. 6 represents a longitudinal section on the bent line I .I in Fig. 7 of one end of an arrangement of my improved bearing when applied to a two-part box. Fig. 7 represents an end view of the arrangement of my bearing as shown in Fig. G, showing one-half of one of the end caps or covers removed to disclose 5o internal constructions and arrangements of the parts inclosed thereby. Fig. 8 represents a view similar to that in Fig. 7, but of another arrangement of the bearing.

Like characters of reference refer to like parts wherever they occur on the different parts of the drawings.

In carrying out my invention I provide a suitable box or casing having a series of rolls therein, each roll being reduced at both ends to form necks or spindles thereon with or without a collar or head outside of said reduced end or neck portion. A series of rolling disk separators, preferably of smaller diameters than the rolls they separate, is arranged at each end of the series of rolls and engage or travel on the surface of the necks of the rolls to keep the rolls from contacting with each other, the center or axis of rotation of each separating-disk being substantially in a plane which coincides with the axes of the rolls separated thereby, the separatingdisks being properly held in this position with relation to the rolls by inner and outer rings,forming tracks for the separating-disks, said rings or tracks being preferably independent and rotatable within the box or casing, but which may be made in one piece with the box or casing or with the end caps of said box or casing when such are used, as may be desired.

In my former patent, hereinbefore referred to, and in which I make use of a box or casing inclosing a series of centrallygrooved rolls separated by a series of rolling disks within said grooves, held in place by an outer centrally-arranged track or rib within the casing and an inner track or spring-box, all as shown in said patent, it has been found that said construction,while admirable for short bearings, such as in wheels and sheaves, when applied to long bearing-boxes and the rolls therein lengthened out to sustain heavy loads, said rolls, owing to the separatingdisks and their outer and inner tracks for the same being arranged at or near the centers thereof, said rolls have shown a tendency to become twisted within the casing when in operation and to get out of alinernent with the shaft or journal, thus causing a cramping of the parts and defeating the object of the bearing. Also in said former patent the outer rib or track for the separating-disks IOC was stationary with relation to the casing, and under certain conditions, such as the separators being unduly pressed over to one side out of their proper Working positions, there was liable to be a rubbing frictional contact between said revolving separators and the oppositely-moving rib or track therefor. My present invention is designed to obviate the aforesaid disadvantages by a construction which retains the load-sustaining rolls in perfect alinelnent with the bearing or journal regardless of the length of said rolls, and in the preferred form of my invention, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, both the inner and outer tracks for the separators are plain loose floating rings free to be revolved in opposite directions under the iniiuence of the contacting and revolving separators and as shown in Figs. 2, 4, 7, and 8. Said rings or tracks are made to conform to the size of the separator to be guided thereby and also to bear such relation to the orbit of the axis of the rolls in their passage around the shaft or journal as to form a concentric raceway, which retains each separator, so that its axis of rotation is substantially in a plane passing through the centers of the axes of the two rolls separated thereby, thus entirely eliminating all possibility of any rubbing friction of the parts in contact and producing-a purely rolling contactbetween the moving surfaces of the several parts of the bearing, as will be understood by the further and more minute description hereinafter contained.

The box or casing l is preferably counterbored at both ends thereof, as shown at 2. The rolls 3 are reduced in diameter at opposite ends, forming necks or spindles 4. Rolling disk separators 5 are placed at each end of the rolls,one separator between each two rolls, so that they will contact with the necks of the two rolls, and they are of such a size that their centers will be substantially in a plane which passes through the centers of the rolls they separate substan tially as shown.

Vithin each counterbored portion 2 of the casing is placed a ring 6 of such an internal diameter that its inner surface will form a limit to prevent the outward displacement of the separators or so that said separators will touch or nearly touch said inner surface, and said surface may form an outer track for said separators. These rings 6 are preferably made as separate pieces from the rest of the bearing and are so confined within the casing as to prevent their endwise movement therewith, but to be free to rotate when required and as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, or they may be made in one piece with the ends or caps 7 of the casing, as shown in Figs. l and or integral with the casing, as in my former patent above referred to. Rings 8 of the proper outer diameter are also placed within the casing, one ring at each end thereof and so as to form a limit to prevent the inward displacement of the separators, so that said separators will touch or nearly touch the` outer surface of said rings, and said outer surface may form an inner track for said sepal'ators. These rings S 8 may be made as independent parts, as shown in Fig. 3, or they may be made in one piece with the end caps 7, as shown in Fig. l. When these rings 8 are made in one piece with the caps 7, they are preferably formed with their inneredges inclined or wedge-shaped, as shown at 9 9 in Fig. l, to allow the cap to be put in proper place upon the casing and to move the separators outward into their proper position away from the shaft or journal l0 as the cap is adjusted into place.

It will be understood that the effect 'of the outer rings 6 and inner rings 8 upon the separators is such that they retain the separators in their proper places in relation to the rolls or in such positions relative to said rolls that the center of each separator is in or substantially in a plane passing through the axes of the two rolls which it separates. As the rolls 3 and not the separators 5 are the means whereby the load is sustained, it will be seen that the pressure on the separators is in lines passing from the axis of one roll to the axis of the other roll separated by the separator, and is consequently in a line through the center of the separator. By this construction there is no pressure of the separators against either the outer or inner rings forming the tracks of the separators, and consequently there is practically no friction between the separators and rings; but if the load is extra heavy and the separators should be moved slightly from theirproper places, so as to press against either the outer or inner rings 6 or 8, and said rings are loosely rotatable within the casing, as above set forth, the rings will rotate within the casing and prevent any friction being produced by this movement of the separators, as the contacting parts will be moving or be free to move in a direction to obviatc friction by a rolling contact.

The box or casing may be made in one piece to entirely surround the shaft or journal, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, or it may be made in two parts suitably matched and iirmly bolted together, as shown in Figs. l, 2, 6, 7, and 8, or held together in any other suitable manner to retain said parts in place. When it is convenient to insert the end of the shaft or journal into and through the bearing, the casing is preferably made whole; but when the bearing is to be applied to the shaft or journal away from the ends of the same and where it is inconvenient or impossible to pass the shaft or journal through the bearing the casing is preferably made in two or more parts, but usually substantially as shown in Figs. l, 2, 6, 7, and 8. It is obvious that when it is necessary to use a casing made in two or more pieces it will also be necessary to divide the caps 7 to correspond.

The caps may be screwed into the counterbored ends of the casing, substantially as IOO IIO

shown in Figs. 3 and 4, which ends in such cases are provided with suitable screwthreads, or the caps may be attached to the casing by means of suitable screws 1l ll, as shown in the other views on the drawings, whichever is desired and most convenient.

In some eases it will be desired to reduce the ends of the rolls other than at the extreme ends thereof or a short distance from their ends, and thereby form the necks on the rells with a collar or head portion l2 outside of the neck, substantially as shown in Fig. 3, and when such a construction is used in connection with a whole casing it is necessary te form the rings 6 as independent pieces, which are inserted within the counterbored portion of the casing and held therein by means of the caps or by other means, but preferably so that they are free to rotate if any influence is brought to bear upon said rings tending torotate themsuch as, for instance, contact with the separators orrollsand consequently all liability to produce friction between said parts is obviated. When the bearing is arranged as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, where whole rolls with integral collars or heads are used, it is necessary to split one ef the rings 6 or S in orderto be able to introduce them into their proper places in the bearing or within the reduced portion of the series of rolls, and in order to prevent any noise or uneven motion er jarring of the separators while moving in contact with said split rings I prefer to split them diagonally or substantially as shown at 13 in Fig. 5; but it is evident that said rings might be made whole and the rolls be made in sections, as shown in my pending application.

In order te increase the ease with which the bearing may be assembled, when the casing is made in two pieces and the bearing is to be applied to a shaft or journal where it is impossible to place the bearing on the shaft or journal fromthe ends of the same, I prefer to arrange the bearing as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, in which the inner rings 8 are made as independent parts and are made in two semicircular pieces, one end of these rings being preferably arranged to enter a counterbored portion 14 on the inside of the caps 7.

In placing a bearing, arranged as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, upon a shaft or journal anywhere between the ends thereof I first place the lower half of the casing,with the half-caps 7 attached to the ends of the same, in place within the hanger or upon the pillowblock, whichever is to be used to support the bearing. I then introduce the rings 8 in their proper places, one at each end of the casing and one-half of each ring at a time, preferably turning er rotating the rings so that one of the joints iu the rings will be within the counterbore in the caps, which are attached. I then insert roll after roll, with the necessary separators between them, into the space between the casing and the shaft or journal until the required number of rolls and separators of the lower half of the bearing has been introduced. I then place the remaining rolls and separat-ors around the upper part of the shaft and place the upper half of the casing in position, covering said rolls and separators, and then bolt the two halves of the casing together, leaving the bearing in the condition illustrated in Fig. 7, ready to receive the upper halves of the caps 7, and thereby to complete the bearing.

In Fig. S I have illustrated substantially the same arrangement of my bearing as that shown in Figs. 6 and 7, excepting that the inner rings 8 have been dispensed with and the separators arranged to use the outer surface of the shaft or journal as an inner track. This arrangement of my bearing is applied to the shaft in a manner similar to that described in relation to Figs. G and 7.

It will be understood by any mechanic skilled in the art te which this invention appertains that when an extremely-smooth-running bearing is desired, such as those used in the hubs of automobiles or in very fino machinery, the casing may be bushed and the shaft covered with a sleeve, both bushing and sleeve hardened and ground perfectly true and cylindrical in a manner well known and common in the art without departing from my invention.

Although I have shown the rolls as being provided with reduced portions and separators and tracks at or near the ends thereof, where bearings requiring extremely long rolls are used, I may also reduce the rolls at any number of places between the ends thereof and introduce a series of separators and tracks for the same at such reduced portions.

Having thus fully described the nature, construction, and operation of my invention, I wish to secure by Letters Patent and claiml. An antifriction-bearing comprising a casing, a series of rolls within said casing, each roll having a reduced portion forminga neck thereon,a series of rolling separators or disks of smaller diameters than the rolls alternating with said rolls and engaging and having their bearings upon the reduced portions or necks thereof, and a concentric raceway for said separators bearing such relation to thc orbit of the axes of said rolls as to retain each separator so that its axis or center of rotation is substantially in a plane passing through the axes of the two rolls separated thereby, for the purpose set forth.

2. An antifriction-bearing,comprising a oasing, a series of rolls therein having reduced portions at both ends thereof forming necks thereon, a series of rolling separators or disks of smaller diameters than the rolls, at each end of the series of rolls, one separator at each end between each two of said rolls engaging and having its bearing upon the reduced portions of the rolls to separate said rolls, inner and outer annular rings forming concentric tracks for each series of separators, said tracks forming two raceways bear- IOO IIO

IIS

a plurality of concentric raeeways bearing such relation to the orbit or path of the axes of said rolls as to retain each separator substantially in a plane passing through its axis or center and the axes of the two rolls separated thereby, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have afXed my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

DANIEL E. KEMPSTER.

IVitnesses: HENRY CHADBOUIW, ALICE B. HARSHMAN. 

